ancestor vs ascendant

ancestor and ascendant both are nouns.

Word	Noun	Adjective	Verb	Adverb
ancestor	Yes	No	No	No
ascendant	Yes	Yes	No	No

As nouns, ancestor and ascendant are synonyms defined as:

ancestor and ascendant: someone from whom you are descended (but usually more remote than a grandparent)

Other synonyms of ancestor include antecedent, ascendent, root.

ancestor (noun)	ascendant (noun)
someone from whom you are descended (but usually more remote than a grandparent)	someone from whom you are descended (but usually more remote than a grandparent)
	position or state of being dominant or in control

ancestor (adjective)	ascendant (adjective)
	tending or directed upward
	most powerful or important or influential